2001

Two hijacked planes crashed into the twin towers of the World Trade Center. Thousands of people were killed by the impact, and by the dramatic, and tragic collapse of the buildings. Many more are injured in an almost simultaneous attack on the Pentagon in Washington DC. It is the single largest terrorist attack that the world has ever known, and sends shock waves across the world.

1998

In America, Kenneth Starr - the Independent Counsel appointed to report on the behaviour of US President Bill Clinton - publishes his report - listing 11potential impeachable offences.

1997

In a national referendum on devolution, the people of Scotland vote 'Yes' to creating their own Parliament for the first time in more than 300 years.

1986

In Britain, 'Coronation Street' actress Pat Phoenix marries long-term friend Tony Booth in hospital.

1982

39 sky-divers are killed in a helicopter crash in West Germany.

1978

Bulgarian defector Georgi Markov is stabbed with a poisoned umbrella by an unknown secret agent in London. The poison brings on a coma and Markov dies four days later.

1973

A military junta, backed by the United States of America, overthrows the elected Government in Chile.

1972

The first transmission in Britain of the BBC TV quiz programme, 'Mastermind'.

1962

British group 'The Beatles' record their first single 'Love Me Do' at the Abbey Road Studios in north London.

1951

First performance of Stravinsky's 'The Rake's Progress' in Venice.

1914

In America, W.C Handy publishes his 'St Louis Blues' which has since been recorded more than100 times.

1895

In England, the prestigious FA Cup trophy is stolen from football outfitters William Shillock of Birmingham. 68 years later an 83 year old man confesses he'd melted it down to make counterfeit halfcrown coins.

1879

260 miners die in an explosion at the Prince of Wales Colliery, at Abercare, Wales.

1855

The city of Sebastopol, the main naval base for the Russian fleet on the Black Sea, is taken by by British and French troops during the Crimean War.

1841

The start of the commuter age in southeast England when the London to Brighton express train begins a regular service - taking 105 minutes.

1830

Ecuador becomes a Republic within the Confederation of Colombia.

1777

American troops led by George Washington, are defeated by the British at the Battle of Brandywine Creek during the American War of Independence.

1709

The Battle of Malplaquet. An Anglo-Dutch-Austrian force, commanded by the Duke of Marlborough, defeats the French in the last major land battle of the War of Spanish Succession (1701-1714).

1649

English troops, commanded by Oliver Cromwell, besiege Drogheda in Ireland. When the town is finally captured, most of the inhabitants are massacred.

1297

Scottish hero William Wallace defeats the English at Stirling Bridge.

1950

English motorcycle champion Barry Sheene is born in London.

1949

Roger Uttley - becomes captain of the England rugby union team in the 1980s.

1945

West German international footballer Franz Beckenbauer born in Munich, nicknamed 'The Kaiser' for his authorative and masterful style.

1931

Scottish actor Bill Simpson

1917

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos. Is forced to flee the country following a popular uprising in 1986. Dies in exile, in Hawaii, in 1989.

1917

Film actor Herbert Lom.

1885

English novelist and poet D.H Lawrence born at Eastwood in Nottinghamshire - the son of a coal-miner. In 1912 David Herbert Lawrence elopes with a married woman, Frieda Weekley - a cousin of the German World War I pilot Baron Manfred von Richthofen - and marries her in 1914. Lawrence makes his reputation as a writer with the semi-autobiographical novel ' Sons and Lovers' (1913). Later works include 'Women In Love' (1921). He is prosecuted for obsenity when 'Lady Chatterley's Lover' is published in Italy in 1928 (the book isn't published in its' original form in Britain until 1961). Lawrence dies in 1930 aged 45.

1978

Bulgarian defector Georgi Markov is stabbed with a poisoned umbrella by an unknown secret agent in London. The poison brings on a coma and Markov dies four days later on September 15, 1978.

1971

Former Russian leader Nikita Khruschev aged 77.

1950

South African statesman Jan Christian Smuts dies aged 80.

1948

Indian Muslim politician Muhammad Ali Jinnah dies aged 71.